Jessica Stevens Obituary
Jessica Lee Stevens came into this world on August 27, 1975. Her middle name Lee was a tribute to her maternal grandmother Susan Lee Yancey. She was one of the most beautiful babies to grace the world. Her smile and laughter were infectious. She would light up the room.
As the youngest of five, she shared to all that she was spoiled rotten! Jessie was truly the baby sister. An enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Jessie includes in her relations the shoulder Blade and Ewing families. She grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation where she considered numerous people to be her sister, brother, cousin, auntie, and uncle. A cancer survivor, she struggled with ongoing health concerns. Her sudden passing on February 22 after a brief period of serious illness was shocking for everyone.
She spent her early life on Badger Creek near Heart Butte, MT. Her parents are David (Dell) and Jacky Stevens (Jacque Farnsworth) with siblings Rachael (Gordon) Nation, Justin Stevens, Aaron Stevens and Germaine Prairie Chicken Shoe Stevens. The kids spent lots of time outdoors, playing in river, riding horses, building forts, picking wildflowers, singing songs by the campfire, sleeping under the stars – a life strongly connected with the natural world. Neighbor kids Mona, Patty and Marla "Poo" Hall were her cuzin' sisters. Summer would find the entire bunch of "Crik Kids" splashing in the waters of Big Badger. Jessie always had a fishing pole.
She was the kid of the family who loved fishing and was forever bringing a trout home for dinner. Living in the Stevens household was unique because while the kids were allowed freedom to explore their natural surroundings, usually unsupervised, their home was one of structured meals, always a salad before dinner, good literature, lots of reading, no television, and lots of music. Her mom Jacky was an accomplished musician and contributed her talents to church, school, weddings and funerals. Jessie joined the band in Junior High and became accomplished on the trumpet. Her teen years were spent in East Glacier Park with a school semester in Perth, Australia. This change of residence after the divorce of her parents, and her dad remarrying Dell Schlaht who worked abroad, expanded her world beyond Badger Creek.
Living with her Mom in East Glacier, Jessie was embraced by many others who became her sisters and close confidants including Cheryl Little Dog, Heather Stewart, Sunshine Gaither and the Barden family with two girls her age. Her high school classmates remember her as a good and loyal friend, always there to support others and empathize with any troubles they were experiencing. In her adult life, she went on to add to the multitude of special people in her life, friends in Polson and later in Billings where she connected with Nicole Reid who supported her return to college.
Jessie was always a spiritual and religious person. She loved attending the Catholic Church and was strong in her faith. She was adopted as a teen by the Drinks Tea Alone Clan in a traditional Blackfeet ceremony where the name Pretty Woman, Akii Niistsitapi, was bestowed upon her by Mrs. Rita Spotted Eagle. Throughout her life she derived strength and guidance when faced with difficulties through traditional cleansing and prayer ceremonies under the guidance of her lifelong mentor and dear friend, Mrs. Darnell Rides at the Door.
She is survived by her three sons, Lane St. Goddard (30 yo), Donnie Archambault (18 yo) and Davis Archambault (16 yo) and her cat, Ed, a treasured companion and roommate in her college residence. Lane was born to Jessie and her first love Ray St. Goddard. Donnie and Davis considered her "Miracle Babies" born to her longtime friend and former classmate, Sam Archambault .
Jessie's early adult residence in Blackfeet country included life on the beautiful St. Goddard Ranch in the foothills of the Rockies. She developed close friendships with many of her in-laws, Ray's family members, including his mother Verna and father Sapoo. She loved country life, riding horses, working with cattle and being in the mountains. After their separation and the development of her life with Sam, his family became her own with the Archambault family embracing the arrival of two grandsons and a new daughter in Jessie. Their life in the Browning area included the boys being able to spend time playing in the old swimming hole on Badger Creek and riding horses with their cousins, Alexandra, Gillian, Logan and Quinn.Over the years of the boys' childhood, they moved from Browning first to Polson, MT and finally to Billings, MT as Jessie transitioned through jobs. Moving away from this place she always called home was a big adjustment.
Jessie was a veteran, having served in her early adult life in the army. Her civilian life occupations were primarily in both law enforcement and the health services. These jobs were dependent on her being physically capable of employment as her health declined. She loved working with people, especially those struggling with difficult life events. She had a knack for making special personal connections with those she met which enabled her to become a guide to those suffering from past trauma or working through serious issues. When she passed away, she was finishing the final semester of her bachelor's degree in social services at MSU Eastern with an emphasis in law enforcement. She was honored to be chosen to lead a project concerning the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement. She was looking forward with great excitement to graduating where she hoped to find employment helping other Natives struggling to overcome past trauma.
As she struggled each day to work through physical pain while focusing on her studies, she spoke more often of how much she missed her dad, David Kennedy Stevens who passed away suddenly in 2003. All who knew her heard stories of the time they spent together and his role in her life as mentor, friend and counselor. She regularly shared that he would be in Heaven to meet her when she arrived. Though she left this world too soon, leaving behind children who need their Mom, relatives who's relationships with her had only just begun to blossom, and friends and family who relied on her for support, we know that they are together now, laughing, teasing and enjoying great food. The impact of her absence here on Earth cannot be described, but we can be comforted by the knowledge that this amazing woman is most certainly one of God's fiercest angels, her strength and beauty filling the Heavens forever watching over those she loves.
A vigil will be held at 4pm on Wednesday February 26, 2025 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Thursday February 27, 2025 at Dahl Funeral Chapel.
